Shortly before landing, the pilot got on the loudspeaker to say a fallen soldier was indeed on the plane. He asked all passengers to remain in their seats so that the military escort onboard could get off first after landing.

After the plane touched down, passengers saw a water canon salute in the soldier’s memory.

Once the plane’s door opened, a military official came on and explained what happened:

It is a sworn oath to bring home, to the family, the fallen. Today you all did that, you are all escorts, escorts of the heart."

After the passengers deplaned, several of them moved towards a window in the terminal to watch as the coffin, covered in an American flag, was removed from the aircraft, in what was surely a touching scene.